This Week in Texas Methodist History  December 15

 Texas Conference of the MEC Passes Resolution to Oppose Jim Crow. December 17,1913

The 1913 session of the Texas Conference of the MEC met in Palestine from December 17-21.  Among the business items was the introduction of a resolution against Jim Crow rail passenger cars. 

One should remember that the  1896 Supreme Court case that enshrined the “separate but equal” , Plessy v. Ferguson, dealt with discrimination in rail cars.  The Supreme Court ruled that as long as the passenger car facilities were of equal quality, it was legal for railroads to discriminate on the basis of race.

Not surprisingly, the rail companies did not provide equal rail cars as demonstrated by the 1913 Texas Conference resolution. 

It read

Whereas, the great state of Texas operates separate passenger car regulations, known as the “Jim Crow Rail Car” law which provides for equal accommodations for white and colored passengers;

Whereas, the rail companies fail to comply with this law providing for equal accommodations for passengers regardless of color;

Whereas, we are often placed in a small cut-off place of four or six seats with tobacco users in all forms, as well as whiskey drinkers and law breakers;

Whereas our wives and children of refined culture are invariably subjected to the unpleasant conditions, for which the railroad companies are responsible;

Whereas on account of these unpleasant conditions, under which our wives and children, as well as ourselves, are compelled to travel over the different railroads of Texas, and that to our greatest shame and humiliation;

Be it Resolved, that we are not pleased to ride on passenger trains with tobacco users and whiskey drinkers and law breakers;

Resolved that we faithfully and prayerfully ask for accommodations as provided for in the “Jim Crow Car Regulations” for our wives, children, and ourselves;

Resolved that the Conference Secretary forward a copy of these resolutions to each railroad ticket agent for his consideration. 

 P. H. Jenkins

H.B Pemberton

M. Q. A Fuller

B. M Taylor

M. Fountain

T. W. Sparks